Word Frequency
turning (ˈtɜːnɪŋ
)
Definitions
noun
- Also called: turn. a road, river, or path that turns off the main way ⇒
the fourth turning on the right
- the point where such a way turns off
- a bend in a straight course
- an object made on a lathe
- another name for turnery (sense 2)
- plural the waste produced in turning on a lathe
turn (tɜːn
)
Definitions
verb
- to move or cause to move around an axis ⇒
a wheel turning
,to turn a knob
- sometimes foll by round to change or cause to change positions by moving through an arc of a circle ⇒
he turned the chair to face the light
- to change or cause to change in course, direction, etc ⇒
he turned left at the main road
- (of soldiers, ships, etc) to alter the direction of advance by changing direction simultaneously or (of a commander) to cause the direction of advance to be altered simultaneously
- to go or pass to the other side of (a corner, etc)
- to assume or cause to assume a rounded, curved, or folded form ⇒
the road turns here
- to reverse or cause to reverse position
- tr to pass round (an enemy or enemy position) so as to attack it from the flank or rear ⇒
the Germans turned the Maginot line
- tr to perform or do by a rotating movement ⇒
to turn a somersault
- tr to shape or cut a thread in (a workpiece, esp one of metal, wood, or plastic) by rotating it on a lathe against a fixed cutting tool
- when intr, foll by into or to to change or convert or be changed or converted ⇒
the alchemists tried to turn base metals into gold
- foll by into to change or cause to change in nature, character, etc ⇒
the frog turned into a prince
- copula to change so as to become ⇒
he turned nasty when he heard the price
- to cause (foliage, etc) to change colour or (of foliage, etc) to change colour ⇒
frost turned the trees a vivid orange
- to cause (milk, etc) to become rancid or sour or (of milk, etc) to become rancid or sour
- to change or cause to change in subject, trend, etc ⇒
the conversation turned to fishing
- to direct or apply or be directed or applied ⇒
he turned his attention to the problem
- intr usually foll by to to appeal or apply (to) for help, advice, etc ⇒
she was very frightened and didn't know where to turn
- to reach, pass, or progress beyond in age, time, etc ⇒
she has just turned twenty
- tr to cause or allow to go ⇒
to turn an animal loose
- to affect or be affected with nausea ⇒
the sight of the dead body turned his stomach
- to affect or be affected with giddiness ⇒
my head is turning
- tr to affect the mental or emotional stability of (esp in the phrase turn (someone's) head)
- tr to release from a container ⇒
she turned the fruit into a basin
- tr to render into another language
- usually foll by against or from to transfer or reverse or cause to transfer or reverse (one's loyalties, affections, etc)
- tr to cause (an enemy agent) to become a double agent working for one's own side ⇒
the bureau turned some of the spies it had caught
- tr to bring (soil) from lower layers to the surface
- to blunt (an edge) or (of an edge) to become blunted
- tr to give a graceful form to ⇒
to turn a compliment
- tr to reverse (a cuff, collar, etc) in order to hide the outer worn side
- intr (US) to be merchandised as specified ⇒
shirts are turning well this week
- (cricket) to spin (the ball) or (of the ball) to spin
-
See turn tail
-
See turn the tide
noun
- an act or instance of turning or the state of being turned or the material turned ⇒
a turn of a rope around a bollard
- a movement of complete or partial rotation
- a change or reversal of direction or position
- direction or drift ⇒
his thoughts took a new turn
- a deviation or departure from a course or tendency
- the place, point, or time at which a deviation or change occurs
- another word for turning (sense 1)
- the right or opportunity to do something in an agreed order or succession ⇒
we'll take turns to play
,now it's George's turn
,you must not play out of turn
- a change in nature, condition, etc ⇒
his illness took a turn for the worse
- a period of action, work, etc
- a short walk, ride, or excursion ⇒
to take a turn in the park
- natural inclination ⇒
he is of a speculative turn of mind
,she has a turn for needlework
- distinctive form or style ⇒
a neat turn of phrase
- requirement, need, or advantage ⇒
to serve someone's turn
- a deed performed that helps or hinders someone ⇒
to do an old lady a good turn
- a twist, bend, or distortion in shape
- (music) a melodic ornament that makes a turn around a note, beginning with the note above, in a variety of sequences
- (theatre (mainly British) a short theatrical act, esp in music hall, cabaret, etc
- (stock exchange)
- (British) the difference between a market maker's bid and offer prices, representing the market maker's profit
- a transaction including both a purchase and a sale
- a military manoeuvre in which men or ships alter their direction of advance together
- (Australian, slang) a party
- (informal) a shock or surprise ⇒
the bad news gave her quite a turn
-
See at every turn
-
See by turns
-
See on the turn
-
See out of turn
-
See the turn
-
See to a turn
See also
turn against, turn away, turn down, turn in, turn off, turn on, turn out, turn over, turn to, turn upDerived Forms
ˈturnable adjectiveWord Origin
Old English tyrnian, from Old French torner, from Latin tornāre to turn in a lathe, from tornus lathe, from Greek tornos dividersSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = change course, swing round, wheel round, veer, move, return, go back, switch, shift, reverse, swerve, change position
= rotate, spin, go round (and round), revolve, roll, circle, wheel, twist, spiral, whirl, swivel, pivot, twirl, gyrate, go round in circles, move in a circle
= change, transform, fashion, shape, convert, alter, adapt, mould, remodel, form, mutate, refit, metamorphose, transmute, transfigure
= rotation, turning, cycle, circle, revolution, spin, twist, reversal, whirl, swivel, pivot, gyration
= opportunity, go, spell, shot, time, try, round, chance, period, shift, crack, succession, fling, stint, whack
Quotations including 'turning'
"One good turn deserves another"
"A bad penny always turns up"
Translations for 'turning'
- British English: turning If you take a particular turning, you go along a road which leads away from the side of another road.Take the next turning on the right.ˈtɜːnɪŋ NOUN
- Arabic: مُنْعَطَف
- Brazilian Portuguese: desvio
- Chinese: 转弯处
- Croatian: skretanje
- Czech: odbočka
- Danish: sidevej
- Dutch: afslag
- European Spanish: giro
- Finnish: risteytyvä tie
- French: tournant
- German: Abzweigung
- Greek: στρίψιμο
- Italian: svolta
- Japanese: 分かれ道
- Korean: 모퉁이
- Norwegian: sving
- Polish: zakręt
- Portuguese: desvio
- Romanian: răspântie de drumuri răspântii de drumuri
- Russian: поворот
- Spanish: bocacalle
- Swedish: vändning
- Thai: จุดเลี้ยว
- Turkish: kıvrım
- Ukrainian: поворот
- Vietnamese: đoạn đường ngoặt
Example Sentences Including 'turning'
Because they are capable of turning their hand to anything, life won't let them down.THORSONS WAY OF - PALMISTRY (2002)
He said Mr O'Keeffe had a history of not turning up in court for "spurious" reasons.Irish Times (2002)
He skidded to a halt in front of Damin and Tarja, turning his mount sharply to avoid barrelling them over.TREASON KEEP (2001)
Joyhinia stepped up to take her place with a commanding air, nodding in acknowledgment to the Quorum before turning to face the Gathering.TREASON KEEP (2001)
Leixlip Castle, Co. Kildare The imaginative revival of Leixlip in the 1950s was a turning point in the restoration of historic Irish houses.Country Life (2004)
Mikel's admiration was slowly turning into burning resentment.TREASON KEEP (2001)
New direction: Dustin Hoffman is also turning his talents to directing film.Glasgow Herald (2001)
Opposition MSPs nicknamed him Crackerjack because, they claimed, he had a habit of turning up just before five o'clock.Glasgow Herald (2001)
The British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, also hailed the summit as a turning point in Europe's development as an economy.Irish Times (2002)
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